NHS England’s Oliver Newbould explains why Derbyshire’s four CCGs have taken the decision to implement a joint executive team and he shares his views on the initial appointment of an accountable officer.

STRUCTURE: Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation Trust has put on hold a decision to appoint a permanent chief executive amid the possibility it could merge or be taken over by Derbyshire Community Health Services FT.

COMMERCIAL: Commissioners across the East Midlands are looking to extend their contracts with the region’s biggest providers of NHS 111 services by six months. It follows an NHS England moratorium on procuring fresh contracts until September.